>We've had some really fun discussions (like the
>now-lost White Wolf "were-ape" post as well as dozens of game world ideas).
My archives go back to November of 1994. Were-ape, anyone?
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Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 11:16:58 -0600
From: Richard Scott
Subject: The Pongida : Wereapes for the WoD
THE PONGIDA - The last of the Bete.
"Well I'm as old as the hills
and young as the day
Nobody sees things in quite the same way"
-Midnight Oil, Feeding Frenzy
Phoenix rose.
Gaia wept.
Luna woke.
Gaia's lament, the War of Rage. "Who will defend me?" she cried.
"Mother, I know not."
Phoenix watched.
"There must be, daughter, or I am lost."
"Mother, I am sorely weakened with the deaths of the changing breed."
Phoenix stirred.
"Luna you must try."
"Mother, there may be one. The last, but I had feared to try."
"Daughter, save me."
Phoenix spread his wings.
Luna sped through the night sky. West, ever west.
Phoenix flew.
Luna called the East Wind to her. "I have a task for you."
East Wind bowed to Luna, and sped through the night.
Phoenix watched.
Luna shone.
"Here are Gaia's Pongida, flaming Phoenix. The last of the Changing
Breed."
Phoenix saw the wind.
The East Wind came, bringing another.
"Go, Wind, call your brothers and sister. Let them bring their gifts
again."
East Wind bowed, and left.
"You, Phoenix, you must give a gift too."
Fiery Phoenix, bathing all in his glow.
And the Pongida were strong.
The Winds blew.
The Pongida knew the Rite-Gifts.
Gaia saw, and was glad. She blessed them with the Way of Gaia.
Phoenix took wing.
Luna showed her many faces to the Pongida.
Ahroun, Galliard, Philodox, Theurge, Ragabash. All of the Pongida.
Then formed the tribes of the Pongida.
Beringa. Peaceful mountain defender, rarest of them all.
Gora. Strength of the Last breed.
Graua. Scouts of the plains, the hidden.
Troglo. Swift and clever, the many.
Two other tribes came, as the East Wind blew.
Sumpygma. Warrior-mystics.
Borpygma. The hermits and philosophers, the thinkers.
Luna shone.
Luna spoke.
"You are the last of Gaia's defenders, my Pongida. Others have strayed,
and lost the way. You must not. Beware the Garou. Help the Changing
Breed."
Luna dimmed.
"I am tired, my children, I must sleep. Go. Save our mother."
Again, the East Wind came. The Pygma were gone.
Luna slept.
Still, Phoenix watched.
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The mist of light
from which they take their grace
Hides what they are.
-Richard Monckton Milnes
"These are the last days. May Gaia have mercy on us." - Prophecy of the
Phoenix.
SETTING
The Pongida are the last of the Changing Breed, created in response to
the War of Rage. In Africa and Asia the Garou went not, or went warily,
so the Pongida helped save many of the hidden Changing Breed, unknown to
the Garou. Mostly legends and old tales abound. Luna created them as they
were most like man, hoping they could understand and guide the humans
more than any others of the Bete.
The Cities
"So you cut all the tall trees down
You poisoned the sky and the sea
You've taken what's good from the ground
But you left precious little for me"
- Midnight Oil, River Runs Red
The Troglo are the Pongida most comfortable with cities, although others
can be found there. However, as more and more forest is cut down, and
becomes more urban, and the rapaciousness of increased subsistence
farming continues, this will change.
The Wilderness
Found mostly in the places of their creation, the Pongida have begun to
range throughout the world, and hence have more interaction with others,
including the Garou. Stories of the White Gorilla, and Congorilla have
surfaced in modern times.
Apes
"don't want to be a member of a species that's deceasing"
- Midnight Oil, pictures
The mountain gorilla, from whence Beringa kinfolk come, is extinct.
The lowlands gorillas of both varieties number in the thousands. A
similar case with the orangutan. There are still over a hundred thousand
of the chimpanzees alive, so they are the most plentiful of the Pongida,
particularly in the Simus breed.
Other Lycanthropes
"Who'd like to change the world
Who wants to shoot the curl"
- Midnight Oil, One Country
The Pongida never participated in the Impergium as such, and often see
the Garou as the enemy, and misunderstandings abound. There are rumours
of other Bete, unknown to the Garou, and the Pongida may well have allies
with the Ophidi and the Raptora, others of the Bete existing where they
live, and mostly unknown to the Garou.
Pongida Society
"Tarzan wasn't a ladies man
He'd just come along and scoop 'em up under his arm"
-Crash Test Dummies, Superman's Song
Pongida are an affectionate bunch as a whole, and like to live in
families, around Nests, much like the Garou packs and Caerns. The
non-African Pongida, the Pygma (their own term for the two tribes,
Borpygma and Sumpygma) tend to be a lot more solitary, however, which
perhaps has not helped them. Becoming Pongida is easier than Garou, there
is no harsh rite of passage, but children are taken at around the same
age from human society. (Of course leaving their families like this gives
rise to the ape-man stories, and the raped-by-apes stories). The Pongida
used to fight over breeding rights for ape families, too, but no longer,
as the numbers are not there.
Breeds
Homid: These Pongida grew up in human society, with all the problems that
entailed with their Pongida nature. They can talk and know the ways of
humans. Some were taken as teenagers, a few others were of the 'lost
variety' just turning up, unknown to other Pongida.
Metis: Children of two Pongida parents. They often have deformities, but
are not reviled as Garou Metis are. They are valued members, although
perhaps a little bit prejudiced against when it comes to certain
areas, like
leadership.
"Monkey see and monkey do
Making babies, eating food
Smelly things, pubic hair
Words of love in the air"
- Talking Heads, Facts of Life
Simus: Raised as apes, often smarter than their family, hence rising to
leadership positions in the hierarchy. Have some problems relating to man
and with speech of the human variety. However, they will be able to
communicate with apes of their own kind. i.e. a Troglo Simus could
communicate with chimpanzees.
Nests
"The girls and boys combine
like monkeys in the zoo"
- Talking Heads, Facts of Life
Much like Garou Caerns, Pongida families guard and gather round Nests,
their own magical sites. Nests can be really bizarre, especially if in
cities, and not what you might expect. The Pongida share similar
dominance patterns with the Garou, as well, but tend a little less to
bloody violence to settle things, with more ritualistic displays of
aggression. The Pongida do have their own special language, as well.
Also, they can communicate over long distances by special cries,
screeches, and grunts, much like apes. Pongida are not as hung up on
lineage and standing, other than dominance.
The Tribes
"I'm absolutely free
Living in the trees
The birdies and the bees
'Cause I'm a nature boy"
- Talking Heads, Totally Nude
Beringa - The Mountain Gorilla is what they most resemble. Male Beringa
will have a silver back when they are in Simus form, and in Homid form
will often have white or grey streaks in their black hair. They are
peaceful creatures, and Gaia's staunchest defender. However, very few of
the Beringa remain, unfortunately.
Gora - The lowland gorilla is their kind, they will appear as dark or
black apes, and likewise with human appearance will be dark or black
haired.
Very strong, and can be fearsome warrios. Often hirsute in homid form.
Graua - Plains dwellers of the east, they like to travel and scout, often
mating with any gorillas they find in their travels. They are adept at
scouting and hiding and travel. They tend to have little to do with
humans, other than observation or spying.
Troglo - The African chimpanzee is the most plentiful ape alive, giving
the Troglo a certain advantage. They are the smallest in Simus or Crinos
form of all the Pongida. Often they will be brunette as homid, and will
be brown-furred as Simus, and tend toward the shorter end of the human
height specturem. Troglo are the tribe that seek most to influence the
humans, or work with them.
Borpygma - Originating in Borneo, they like to keep to themselves
whenever possible, and are deep thinkers, contemplating the ways of the
world and the Pongida and other Bete. Other tribes will often come to
them for advice. (and often get impatient with the seeming endless
philosophical lecture that will inevitably follow)
Sumpyga - The Sumatran orang is their flock, and they have a decided
mystical bent, which some Pongida are in awe of, and some are a little
distrustful of. Both varieties of Pygma will be orange or red-furred in
Simus form, and red/auburn/ginger/haired as homid. A balding appearance
is even not uncommon.
Wyrm Corruption
"Come down for a minute
touch the grass on the other side
meet the devil who is your host
Strike down what you believe in"
- Entombed, Rotten Soil
Lots of the mythology and cosmology is similar to the Garou, and, of
course, there is the ever-present Wyrm. The Garou's greatest evil, the
Black Spiral Dancers, has unfortunately affected the Pongida, as well,
but in far fewer numbers. The Troglo are most likely to fall prey to this.
To become Nean Ravagers, (the Pongida equivalent of the Black Spiral
Dancers) Pongida are taken to abandoned mines by Nean Ravager packs (a
term taken from the Garou, eo echo their destruction of other Bete) ,
where
pits of corruption are found, and immersed in all manner of foulness. When
they come out of this Wyrm-spawned horror they are insane, more brutish,
more human looking, and out to cause the downfall of the Pongida. Pentex
and the Fomori of course affect the Pongida as well. Mines and other such
sites from particularly environmentally noxious industries will be the
most common sites to become Nean Ravager pits.
The Ravagers will look like an evil echo of what they were before, a nasty
glint to their eyes, often drooling or foaming, and becoming more brutish,
hairier. Chins and teeth will be a little more pronounced, and heads more
sloping.
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CHARACTER CREATION
"Well I told you about the forest and trees and the chlorophyll green
Yes I told you the birds will endure flutter wings dance on leaves
Hold onto dreams, hold onto dreams tonight"
- Midnight Oil, Renaissance Man
The usual Storyteller process is followed, with the same point
distribution as the Garou. Concept/Attributes/Talents etc. The same number
of freebie points.
Breed Initial Gnosis
Homid 1
Metis 3
Simus 5
Initial Breed gifts, same as the Garou, substituting Pongida for Garou
where appropriate of course. Simus characters may not have
abilities that could only be learned by humans, except anything that
involves very simple tool use, etc.
Assimilation becomes a Level Four gift for the Pongida homid.
Heightened Senses, Scent of Sight, and Gnaw are all taught by an
Ape-spirit.
Auspice Initial Rage
*If the character is Troglo, use the second number.
Ragabash 1/2
Theurge 2/3
Philodox 3/4
Galliard 4/5
Ahroun 5/6
Initial Auspice gifts are the same, except Ahroun get Iron Hands,
instead of Razor Claws. Sense of the Prey is limited to Troglo only, and
taught by a chimpanzee spirit.
Call of the Wyld is taught by an ape spirit, and involves the calls of
the particular tribe, screeching, etc.
Heart of Fury will be taught by a Lion spirit.
Clenched Jaw will be taught by an Ape spirit.
Iron Hands (Level One) - The Pongida may make their fists iron hard. A
Rage Point is spent, and the Pongida must pound something and scream.
This will add one die of damage in combat, and allow the hand to be used
as a hammer or other applications.
Tribe Initial Willpower
Troglo 3
Gora 4
Graua 4
Beringa 5
Sumpygma 5
Borpygma 6
Troglo - Beginning gifts: Glib Tongue, Persusasion. Totem - Rat.
Gora - Beginning gifts: Resist Pain, Iron Hands. Totem - Bear
Graua - Beginning gifts: Camouflage, Speed of Thought. Totem - Owl
Beringa - Beginning gifts: Sense Wyrm, Mother's Touch. Totem - Ngagi
Sumpygma - Beginning gifts: Sense Wyrm, Resist Pain Totem - Stag
Borpygma - Beginning gifts: Sense Wyrm, Sense Magic Totem - Mawas
Troglo Gifts
Glib Tongue
Persuasion
Snarl of the Predator
Distractions
Merciful Blow
Invisibility
Speed Beyond Thought
Stoking Fury's Furnace
Riot
Trees in the Air
Trees in the Air(Level Five) - The Troglo may actually move through the
air as though there were trees there for them to climb and swing between.
They may also take whatever they can carry (including others, with them)
They may move at running speed.
Beringa Gifts
Mother's Touch
Sense Wyrm
Calm
Luna's Armor
Dazzle
Spirit Friend
Beast Life
Serenity
The Living Wood
Summon Ngagi
Summon Ngagi(Level Five) - The Beringa may summon a representation of the
great white gorilla to aid him in one task. Roll Charisma and
Primal-Urge, difficulty 8, the number of successes = the numbers of turns
that the Ngagi-mirror will exist to aid the summoner. 5 or more
successes may allow the Ngagi to stay longer than the usual (at the
Storyteller's discretion, or until the task is completed.)
Gora Gifts
Resist Pain
Iron Hands
Howl of the Banshee
Clap of Thunder
Might of Thor
Wrath of Gaia
Open Wounds
Hero's Stand
Luna's Avenger
Shake the Earth
Shake the Earth(Level Five) - Striking both fists on the ground, and
spending a rage and gnosis point the Gora may produce a small earthquake
lasting for a number of turns equal to a strength roll at difficulty 7.
To escape, Dexterity+Alertness must be rolled at difficulty 8. A botched
roll will mean that the botcher is swallowed up by the earth. Failure will
result in damage of some kind. The Gora may direct this within line of
sight.
Graua Gifts
Camouflage
Speed of Thought
Blissful Ignorance
Messenger's Fortitude
Adaptation
The Great Leap
Attunement
Speed beyond Thought
Gate of the Moon
Maze of Doom
Maze of Doom(Level Five) - by spending one Gnosis and rolling
Manipulation+Subterfuge difficulty 7 the Graua may cause any group they
are tracking, following, or near, to become hopelessley lost in the
terrain they are in (even in the Umbra), allowing them to be harrassed,
escaped (or even being fatal, depending where they were lost)
Sumpygma Gifts
Sense Wyrm
Resist Pain
Luna's Armor
Beastmind
Icy Chill of Despair
Silver Hands
Strength of the Dominator
Doppelganger
Circular Attack
Paws of the Newborn
Borpygma Gifts
Sense Magic
Sense Wyrm
Spirit of the Bird
Spirit of the Fish
Call Flame
Invisibility
Call Elemental
Ultimate Argument of Logic
Wisdom of the Seer
Gaia's Divine Insight
Gaia's Divine Insight - With a roll of Charisma+Occult difficulty 9 and
spending one Gnosis point, the Borpygma may ask Gaia (the Storyteller) one
question for each success.
Totems
Ngagi - Totem of Respect. Background cost 5.
The ancient white Gorilla, Ngagi teaches wisdom, courage and resolve.
He will add +3 to rolls against fear, and will allow the use of one extra
Willpower point per day. It is even rumored that some of the ancient
surviving Beringa have seen and talked to Ngagi, an ominous omen.
Mawas - Totem of Wisdom. Background cost 6.
The wide old man of the forest, this ancient orangutan will add +3 to
rolls involving knowledge, mysteries, or puzzles.
Rites and Renown
Very similar to the Garou. As is rank.
Backgrounds
Pongida do not have the Pure Breed background.
The Many Forms
"there are times when not being human
would be a source of inner pride"
- Entombed, Full of Hell
Homid: The Human
No adjustments, shift difficulty 5. May carry silver items without harm.
Homids look as described above.
Glabro: The Near Man, shift difficulty 6.
In Glabro form, chests will get deeper, bodies hairier, jaws more
prominent and heads more beetle-browed. The Glabro will gain 100-200% of
their own weight, and grow several inches taller. teeth get bigger and
bodies more muscular.
STR STA DEX MAN APP
Troglo 3 1 0 -1 -1
Gora 6 0 0 -3 -3
Graua 4 2 0 -3 -3
Beringa 5 1 0 -3 -3
Sumpygma 5 1 0 -2 -2
Borpygma 5 1 0 -2 -2
Crinos: The Ape-Man, shift difficulty 6.
The Crinos form will be at least one and a half times taller than the
homid form. The body will be completely hairy, hands bigger. Teeth will be
even more pronounced than an ape's, with large canines. Movement on
all fours
will now be undertaken. Another 100-200% weight will be added. The
head will
become very apelike. Oh, and will be really mad and not good at talking
(think the Hulk for speech patterns, in the less-intelligent incarnations)
STR STA DEX MAN APP
Troglo 5 2 1 -3 0
Gora 8 1 0 -4 0
Graua 6 3 0 -4 0
Beringa 7 2 0 -4 0
Sumpygma 7 1 0 -3 0
Borpygma 6 2 0 -3 0
Hispo: The Near-Ape
Basically, a giant ape, almost as big as the Crinos form, and will be
able to charge on all fours like an ape. Big, hairy, and scary.
STR STA DEX MAN APP
Troglo 4 2 2 -3 0
Gora 7 1 0 -3 0
Graua 5 3 0 -3 0
Beringa 6 2 0 -3 0
Sumpygma 6 1 1 -3 0
Borpygma 5 2 1 -3 0
Simus:Ape
Smaller than the Hispo form, and looking almost exactly like an ape of
the same variety (although quite a bit larger) the Simus form will be
less aggressive, as well. All the sensory advantages and
ape-communications will be available.
STR STA DEX MAN APP
Troglo 2 1 2 -3 0
Gora 5 0 0 -3 0
Graua 3 2 0 -3 0
Beringa 4 1 0 -3 0
Sumpygma 3 1 1 -3 0
Borpygma 2 2 1 -3 0
Other stuff
More later, but just substitute appropriate Werewolf system for other
stuff, in general.
--
Pants off Australia! It's just another afternoon when too much sport is barely
enough! Now here's the team that can open the batting & take the new ball up
the hill into the wind, who can turn defense into attack in the twinkling
of an eye! H.G. Nelson and Rampaging Roy Slaven !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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